• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • NEWS:
  • SatNews
  • SatMagazine
  • MilSatMagazine
  • SmallSat News
  • |     EVENTS:
  • SmallSat Symposium
  • Satellite Innovation
  • MilSat Symposium

SatNews

  • HOME
  • Magazines
  • Events
  • SmallSat Europe Insights
  • Industry Calendar
    • IN PERSON
    • VIRTUAL
  • Subscribe

RUAG Space + OHB To Deliver Sunshield Solar Array For ESA’s PLATO Planet Hunting Mission

March 10, 2021

Space supplier RUAG Space will deliver the Sunshield Solar Array Subsystem for the European “planet-hunting” mission PLATO.
 
The “planet-hunting” mission PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) of the European Space Agency (ESA) is a space-based observatory to find and study extrasolar planetary systems with emphasis on the properties of terrestrial planets in the habitable zone around solar-like stars. It is scheduled to launch in 2026.

RUAG Space and OHB signed a contract for the Sunshield Solar Array Subsystem. The contract is worth more than 20 million Swiss Francs. RUAG Space will provide mechanisms, structures (panels) as well as thermal insulation, a transport container and other ground support equipment. A solar array consists of several solar panels that generate electricity for the satellite. The solar array also shields the 26 cameras and electronic units of the PLATO observatory from the sunlight.

Artistic rendition of PLATO is courtesy of OHB.

The delivery of the hardware to OHB in Bremen, Germany, is scheduled for summer 2024.
  
“Our customer receives a complete subsystem from us from a single source. By this, our customer saves a lot of time and efforts. Our goal is to simplify our customers’ supply chain and make their lives easier,” said Oliver Schiewe, Senior Vice President Spacecraft at RUAG Space. “For RUAG Space providing subsystems is an important strategic step to deliver added value for a strongly changing space market.”

“We selected RUAG Space for this subsystem since they have best competences in design and development of highly complex mechanical, thermal and mechanism solutions. In addition, we are well acquainted with RUAG’s cooperative approach and fully confident to establish an effective working relationship for the success of our PLATO project,” added Wolfgang Paetsch, Board Member of OHB System AG.

The PLATO planet hunter spacecraft. Artistic impression courtesy of ESA.

Filed Under: Contracts, Manufacturing, Solar

Primary Sidebar

Most Read Stories

  • Space Debris, and the EU’s Space Act
  • In celebration of Juneteenth
  • Wishing Everyone a Happy July 4th … Independence Day, U.S.A.
  • Eutelsat's efforts to obtain funding to save OneWeb
  • Forrester's Digest: Starlink active in Iran

About Satnews

  • Contacts
  • History

Archives

  • July 2025
  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020

Secondary Sidebar

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy
x
Sign up Now (For Free)
Access daily or weekly satellite news updates covering all aspects of the commercial and military satellite industry.
Invalid email address
Notify Me Regarding ( At least one ):
We value your privacy and will not sell or share your email or other information with any other company. You may also unsubscribe at anytime.

Click Here to see our full privacy policy.
Thanks for subscribing!